Kanshi Ram (1934-2006) was a driving force behind the empowerment of Bahujan communities and the visionary founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Departing from his central government position, he dedicated himself to social and political causes, establishing the BAMCEF, Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (DS-4), and ultimately, the Bahujan Samaj Party in 1984.
Initially, the BSP was a modestly sized party, primarily backed by Dalit voters in regions such as Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. However, a turning point occurred in 1989 and the 1991 elections when the BSP made remarkable strides in Uttar Pradesh. This marked the first instance in independent India where a political party mainly supported by Dalit voters achieved such significant political accomplishments.
Kanshi Ram envisioned the BSP as a pragmatic political organization. The party drew strength from the reality that the Bahujans, encompassing SCs, STs, OBCs, and religious minorities, constituted a substantial majority of the population, thereby holding substantial political influence due to their numerical strength. |
